The women of Chuong My never leave anyone behind.

With its "Godmother" program caring for 7 disadvantaged children; providing credit support to 155 near-poor members to develop their economy; and introducing jobs to 90 women, the Women's Union of Chuong My Ward is contributing to the realization of the sustainable poverty reduction policy, becoming an important pillar in maintaining social security at the grassroots level.

Hà Nội Mới•23/12/2025

Precarious situations in life

Representatives from the Women's Union of Chuong My Ward and the Vietnam Investment and Development Bank, Ha Dong Branch, discussed and assessed the circumstances of Nguyen Van Tam's family in Dai Yen residential area on the afternoon of December 22nd. Photo: Kim Nhue.

Currently, Chuong My ward no longer has any poor households according to the current standards, with only about 60-70 near-poor households remaining. This number reflects the great efforts of the entire local political system in implementing sustainable poverty reduction programs in accordance with the Party's guidelines and the State's policies. However, at the grassroots level, "no more poor households" does not mean the end of hardship. On the contrary, the near-poor group is the most fragile boundary, where even a single unexpected event can push a family back into a cycle of deprivation.

On the afternoon of December 22nd, as the last cold winds of winter crept through the narrow alleys of Dai Yen residential area, a delegation from the Women's Union of Chuong My Ward, along with representatives from the Vietnam Investment and Development Bank ( BIDV ) Ha Dong Branch, visited several near-poor families in the area. This wasn't a formal visit; the delegation came to confront the reality: after having "escaped poverty," who is still struggling and why?

In the family of Nguyen Van Tam, a 6th-grade student, this precarious situation is clearly evident. He lost his father at a young age to cancer. The family consists of five people: his grandmother, Nguyen Thi Coc, is 80 years old and in poor health. His mother, Dang Thi Sen, works as a garment factory worker earning around 7-8 million VND per month, struggling to support three children and care for her elderly mother. Tam's two older siblings are still in school, and the costs of living, education, and medicine are constant concerns.

The family's old house was in serious disrepair, adding to their worries every rainy season. Thanks to the help of relatives, the grandmother and granddaughter were able to get a new, more stable home. But "having a house" doesn't mean "security." With a factory worker's income and the family lacking a breadwinner, if Ms. Sen falls ill or loses her job, the entire financial balance could collapse. "Near-poverty" in this case doesn't mean a lack of food, but rather a lack of resilience against risks.

Representatives from the Women's Union of Chuong My Ward and the Vietnam Investment and Development Bank, Ha Dong Branch, discussed and assessed the circumstances of Mr. Nguyen Van Hinh's family in Dai Yen residential area on the afternoon of December 22nd. Photo: Kim Nhue

Not far away is the family of Mr. Nguyen Van Hinh, a household recently recognized as having escaped poverty. With a grapefruit orchard of about 1,500 square meters as their livelihood, he borrowed 50 million VND from the Social Policy Bank to invest in production and has already repaid 30 million VND. The couple still tries to supplement their income: the husband works in construction, and the wife works in landscaping. On paper, they have moved beyond the poverty line.

But reality paints a different picture. Income from grapefruit orchards is seasonal, agricultural product prices are volatile, and hired labor is unstable. In particular, families with disabled children requiring long-term care and treatment face a "breaking point" that can erode all savings. For such families, the risk of falling back into poverty doesn't stem from laziness, but from unforeseen events beyond their ability to cope.

Two different situations, but sharing the same precarious state. And that is why the Women's Union of Chuong My Ward has determined that sustainable poverty reduction does not stop at removing a household from the poverty list, but is about preventing them from falling back into poverty.

A lifeline for near-poor households

Representatives from the Women's Union of Chuong My Ward and the Vietnam Investment and Development Bank, Ha Dong Branch, presented gifts to encourage the family of Mr. Nguyen Van Hinh in Dai Yen residential area. Photo: Kim Nhue

Chương Mỹ is a newly established ward after a merger, with a large area and a large population, requiring higher levels of management and social welfare assurance. In this context, the Women's Union of Chương Mỹ ward is considered one of the most grassroots forces, directly reaching out to near-poor households, vulnerable women, and children.

According to Tran Thi My Linh, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Chuong My Ward, focusing solely on the number of "no more poor households" can easily lead to complacency. In reality, the near-poor households are the ones that need the most close monitoring. These are families who have risen above the poverty line but lack a solid foundation to stand on their own two feet when facing risks.

Based on that understanding, the Association has implemented many solutions in a coordinated manner. Policy credit activities continue to be an important pillar. Currently, the Association manages 52 branches with more than 8,200 members, coordinating with the Social Policy Bank to maintain over 128 billion VND in outstanding loans for more than 2,000 borrowing households. Specifically, 155 women in the near-poor group have been supported in accessing capital to develop their businesses and expand production.

Alongside providing financial support, the Association focuses on job placement. Through coordination with businesses and production facilities in the area and surrounding regions, 90 women have been introduced to jobs, gaining additional stable income. For many families, this is a crucial but invaluable "soft support" to maintain their living standards after escaping poverty.

In particular, the "Godmother" program is implemented by the Association as a long-term social welfare solution. In 2025, the Association sponsored 7 disadvantaged children, with a total support budget of 42 million VND. These children not only receive money but also receive monitoring and encouragement throughout their studies.

The case of Nguyen Van Tam is a clear example of this approach. Recognizing the risk of the member's family falling back into poverty, the Association proactively connected with BIDV Ha Dong Branch, introducing the specific circumstances so that the company could directly visit, assess, and decide to sponsor the family, providing 6 million VND in educational support. This is not a "rescue" effort, but rather timely support that helps the family alleviate immediate pressure and ensures the child's education is not interrupted.

When poverty reduction is a shared responsibility

The Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Council of Chuong My Ward presents gifts to families in difficult circumstances. Photo: Lan Oanh

Sustainable poverty reduction in Chuong My ward is not the sole effort of the Women's Union. According to Vu Ngoc Hoa, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Chuong My ward, maintaining social security is crucial for long-term development, especially in the context of a newly established ward. Sustainable poverty reduction must be linked to the role of the entire grassroots political system, with mass organizations playing a key role in implementing policies and guidelines.

From an administrative perspective, Chairman of the People's Committee of Chuong My Ward, Trinh Duy Oai, affirmed that the ward government always creates conditions for mass organizations to promote their roles, especially in mobilizing social resources to participate in social welfare work. The coordination between the government, the Women's Union, credit institutions, and businesses has created a multi-tiered support network, helping people access policies more promptly.

From preferential credit and job support to child sponsorship models, each solution aims at a common goal: enhancing the self-reliance of the people, especially women – a force playing a crucial role in the family economy. This approach is also consistent with the Party's orientation on promoting the role and empowerment of women in sustainable poverty reduction.

Sustainable poverty reduction, ultimately, is not just about meeting targets, but about preventing the fragile boundaries from being breached. In Chuong My ward, the spirit of "leaving no one behind" is being realized through concrete, persistent, and grassroots actions by the Women's Union – a silent but highly responsible force in the local welfare landscape.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/phu-nu-chuong-my-khong-bo-ai-o-lai-phia-sau-727811.html